Glossary

Ante

The ante is a form of forced bet that all players must pay before the cards are dealt. They are paid by all players at the table every round and do not count as bets made, but are a form of entry fee into the round.
This is in contrast to the blinds, which are paid by two different players every round. Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw often use antes, though the question of antes vs. blinds is ultimately determined by the house rules.

In tournaments with blinds, it is usual to add antes after a particular blind level that every player must pay regardless of whether he paid a blind or not.